FORMER MP Sophie Mirabella laughing at her wedding with Prime Minister Tony Abbott and former speaker Bronwyn Bishop is the image that is hoped to gain support for marriage equality.
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St Matthew’s Father Peter MacLeod-Miller hung the posters of the politicians around Albury on Tuesday.
The poster reads “all in the family – politicians against marriage equality working together for a fairer Australia?”
Father MacLeod-Miller hopes to drum up support for marriage equality within other churches on the Border.
“We don’t want to tolerate people,” he said.
“We want acceptance.”
The church leader said he anted to hang the posters before travelling to parliament house in both Sydney and Canberra on Wednesday to express his opinion on the issue of gay marriage.
“I’m hoping to encourage people like Sussan Ley (Farrer MP) to understand,” Father MacLeod-Miller said.
He said he believed churches should be at the “front line”, pushing for marriage equality.
“There are issues of youth suicide because of the issue,” Father MacLeod-Miller said.
“I’d hate to think the life of anyone could be prejudiced by the Christian tradition because it’s something that is supposed to give you life.
“I feel partly responsible because I am part of that tradition.”
Father MacLeod-Miller said Ms Mirabella appeared on the poster because she was “underdeveloped”.
“Just like other politicians who use the church as an excuse,” he said.
“We need to pull that from under their feet.”
The archdeacon said using Christian tradition as an excuse not to legalise gay marriage made churches a “safe haven for bigots”.
“If anyone is really interested in the future of Australian society and young people then they must be interested in doing something about giving young people signals that they are OK,” he said.
“We can’t do much about things like international conflicts but this we can do something about and our politicians can do something about it.
“I feel compelled to do something about it because there are people who aren’t.”
Father MacLeod-Miller hopes by visiting the capital he would help the Liberal Party “reconnect with its roots of independence and individuality”.
